Foot garment



March 31, 1931. s. H. HEDGES FOOT GAMER;

F iled Aug. 21, 1930 I Ratented Mar. 31, 1931' QAMUEIJ H. HEDGES, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON FOOT GARMENT Application filed August 21, 1930. Serial No. 476,902.

10 tween the toes.

While it has heretofore been proposed to encase the individual toes each one in its individual stall to prevent chafing, to absorb perspiration, and for like reasons, these have been found objectionable, as has been pointed outin patent to Loven, No. 1,452,302, in that the double thickness tends unduly to distort the toes and to spread them. Furthermore, the means heretofore proposed are such as will cause wrinkling, and in all such cases they will promote rather than eliminate the chafing of the skin, which is the beginning of corns and like discomforts.

It is my object, then, to provide a means for preventing contact of skin uponskin, only with a single thickness between adjacent toes, thus preventing distortion, and to do this by means which inherently, and by reason of their closely fitting the shape of the toes, Will prevent wrinkling. In particular it is my object to prevent skin contact throughout the entire extent of the toes, even down into the base of the toes, where they join the foot.

My invention comprises the novel garment and the novel form thereof, as shown in the accompanying drawings, described in this specification, and as will be more particularly defined by the claims which. terminate the same. 4

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown my invention in a form which is now preferred by me.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a foot with such a garment in the form of a sock applied thereto. I

Figure 2 is a cross section through the toe portion of my garment on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. v Figures 3 and 4 are respectively longitudinal sections through the toe portion on the respective lines 3-3 and 44 of Figure 1.

I provide individual stalls 1, 3 and 5 for the first, third and fifth toes, respectively. These may conveniently be formed as part of a knitted sock or other foot garment, indicated in general by the numeral 6. The extent of this up the foot or leg is immaterial. It may extend only past the ball of the foot and fit snugly enough enough to be retained upon the foot. It may be of the height of a sock or half sock, or may form part of a complete stocking.

To accommodate the second and fourth toes, for which I do notprovide stalls, the foot member 6 is provided with apertures 2 and 4 through which these toes may be projected. In order that the stalls may the more closely fit the foot, and that contact between the skin at the base of the third and fourth toes, for instance, may be prevented, the aperture 4 in this instance (and the same is true of the aperture 2) is out slightly on an incline so that its top edge lies to the rear of the bottom edge of the aperture. The lower portion of the toes, between the base and the tip, is more restricted than at the base or at the tip, so that a hollow or trough is formed. The stalls are so shaped, and the apertures are cut on the incline, as described, so that the material fits closely beneaththe hollow under the individual toes, as is indicated at 7 in Figures 3 and 4. Such a formationof the mouth of the apertures 2 and 4 insures that material will lie between adjacent toes, not only between the outer portions of the toes, but more particularly between the base portions, where perspiration is usually to be found and where contact of skin upon skin would cause chafing and irritation.

The material of which such a garment is made is largely a matter of choice. It may be made of knit material similar to that of which socks or stockings are usually formed, andthus would have some elasticity, and this would tend to cause it to cling more closely to the foot and to the toes, in this manner preventing wrinkling yet insuring against chafing.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A foot garment comprising a, member enclosing the foot back of the toes, and terminating in stalls receiving the first, third, and fifth toes only, said member having apertures positioned to permit projection there through of the second and fourth toes.

2. A foot garment comprising a member enclosing the foot back of the toes, and terminating in stalls receiving the first, third, and fifth toes, only, said member having apertures positioned to permit projection therethrough of the second and fourth toes, and the upper edge of said apertures being disposed rearwardly of their lower edge, whereby such edge fits closely about the contour of the base of the exposed toes, where they join the foot. i

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 7th day of August, 1930.

SAMUEL H. HEDGES. 

